Indiana Fever Rookie Sends Clear Message on Caitlin Clark

Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

Indiana Fever Rookie Sends Clear Message on Caitlin Clark

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Will Chesanek | Last updated Apr 20, 2026 1:29 PM ET

Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever is entering her third season of professional basketball. Under Stephanie White’s leadership, the Fever had a solid season, ending with a 24-20 record and a third-place finish in the Eastern Conference. Clark’s season was cut short to 13 games after she suffered a right groin injury on July 15 against the Connecticut Sun.

Even with Clark sidelined, Indiana advanced deep into the 2025 WNBA playoffs. The Fever pulled off an upset over Allisha Gray and the No. 3 Atlanta Dream in the first round but ultimately lost to A’ja Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces in a five-game semifinal series.

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) dribbles the ball while Golden State Valkyries guard Tiffany Hayes (15) defends Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

The Fever are looking to return to the playoffs this season, and one player who can help them accomplish this is guard Raven Johnson. Johnson was selected by Indiana with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft. Johnson was the No. 2 overall-ranked prospect in the 2021 class, behind the No. 1 overall selection in the 2026 draft, guard Azzi Fudd. Johnson committed to play for Dawn Staley and the South Carolina Gamecocks.

Johnson spent five seasons in Columbia, having her best season as a senior during the 2025-26 women’s college basketball season. The Westlake High School graduate averaged 9.9 points and 5.1 assists in 28.6 minutes per game. The 5-foot-8 guard has a good shooting stroke, making 82% of her free throws and 39.8% of her 3-point attempts.

On Monday, the Fever took to social media to highlight their most recent first-round pick. Indiana shared a video on Instagram of Johnson speaking with reporters about how training camp has gone so far, her adjustment to the team and how she has leaned on veterans throughout the process, including Clark.

“Oh, it was good. I learned from a lot of the vets here,” Johnson said. “I was listening. They gave me a good welcome. They told me how training camp was going to be. I thought it was very competitive, but it felt good to be here, honestly, and to play with these talented women. Sophie Cunningham, Caitlin Clark, Lexie Hull, Kelsey Mitchell — they are all great people to be around. They help me when I don’t know things. They know the system really well. I asked them a lot of questions yesterday. I don’t know, they probably got annoyed, but I did ask them a lot of questions yesterday.”